Can draining blood cut cholesterol?

4th December 2012

Researchers have said bloodletting could become a common way of reducing the risk of high blood pressure and increasing good cholesterol levels.

Dr Lindsey Fitzharris, a medical historian from Queen Mary, University of London said the technique was used in the past to treat a wide range of illness, explaining "The thinking was that too much blood in the system could lead to sickness. Bloodletting came to be expected — rather like people expect antibiotics when they go to the doctor today." Now new research has shown it could reduce bad cholesterol and high blood pressure.